Will Hamilton turn silver into gold?
03/12/2013
In the 1930s before and in the mid-1950s after the war, the Silver Arrows played out their gigantic superiority over the entire competition. The Stuttgart team could hardly be beaten. Only Auto Union, also in silver livery, was able to have a say before the war.
In 1955, the beautiful Silver Arrows were consigned to the museum. Only Peter Sauber was able to officially bring the star and the silver color back into the top league of motorsport with his C9. Then came an eternal back and forth until the Stuttgart-based company finally officially returned to the premier league of Formula 1 in 2010. They also signed up the previously red but most successful driver of all time: Michael Schumacher.
For three long years, they struggled for prestige, scoring a single victory with Nico Rosberg in China 2012 and just one podium finish with Michael Schumacher in Valencia 2012. Everything was to change for the upcoming season. Heads were already turning at the end of 2012, and new signings began their work. Success must now come, otherwise nobody knows how long Mercedes will be able to keep up. With BMW, we have seen how quickly things can happen.
Probably the most important new signing is Briton Lewis Hamilton. An absolute top driver, matured at McLaren, grew up with Mercedes engines, he could now become a complete "Silver Star".
He had already tested the first Silver Arrow, the 1934 W25, years ago at the Nürburgring, whereupon he presumably got Norbert Haug on the phone out of sheer enthusiasm and asked him to drive the current Silver Arrow as soon as possible.
However, Norbert Haug will only be able to watch on TV what Hamilton will now do with the Silver Arrow. Niki Lauda, who brought Hamilton to Mercedes, now has the big say at the home of the star.
And at the weekend we will know how fast the new Silver Arrows really are, because then this year's Grand Prix season begins with the Australian GP ...
